…Says Muslim-Muslim ticket will dominate debate
Former Kano State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has disclosed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, signed a formal agreement committing to a single four-year presidential term, after which power would return to Northern Nigeria in 2031.
Speaking during a television programme on Monday, Kwankwaso said the agreement followed extensive consultations between both leaders and had been documented both within the party and in a separate understanding between the two politicians.
According to him, the arrangement is rooted in the principles of equity, fairness and national unity, with the presidency remaining in the South for one term before returning to the North. “I personally believe him, and I don’t think, based on what I now know about him, he will change his mind when the time comes,” Kwankwaso said.
“We have accepted to put it on paper. We have done one for the party, and we have done another one between the two of us”. Explaining the agreement further, he said: “After four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, as friends and brothers; and after our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the general agreement”.
Kwankwaso revealed that before the 2023 general election, representatives of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) established a joint committee to compare their manifestos and political visions.
According to him, the committee concluded that both leaders shared similar aspirations for Nigeria and recommended closer political cooperation. He said: “The committee looked at our blueprints and the political situation in the country. At the end of the day, we all accepted that there was a need to work together as people of like minds, who are committed to bringing positive change to Nigeria”.
The former Defence Minister said his perception of Obi had changed after months of engagement, describing the former Anambra State governor as a principled and dependable leader. “I now know that Peter Obi is a very serious politician. He has the country in mind. He is somebody one can rely on. When we compared our blueprints, we realised that with only a few adjustments, we shared virtually the same vision and mission for the country”, he added.
Kwankwaso said an Obi-led administration would prioritise tackling insecurity, reviving the economy, rebuilding infrastructure and improving education. Describing insecurity as Nigeria’s most pressing challenge, he argued that the country needed strong political will, improved intelligence gathering, better welfare for security personnel and active public participation to defeat terrorism and other violent crimes.
He also suggested that dialogue should complement military operations, saying engagement with all stakeholders, including terrorists where necessary, should not be ruled out “Of course, we will talk. We will sit down with them. We will talk to everybody. Where military action is required, we will also not hesitate to deploy the security agencies”, he stated.
While declining to directly criticise the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Kwankwaso maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges require more decisive leadership. “The Nigerian military is capable, well-trained locally and internationally. I see no reason why they should not be properly equipped with the necessary resources to defeat terrorists and other criminal elements. What is needed is strong political will and the right directives”, he said.
On the 2027 presidential election, Kwankwaso also claimed that concerns in the United States had shifted from allegations previously made against him to the possibility of another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in Nigeria. He said attempts by unnamed individuals to tarnish his reputation abroad had failed after investigations.
Kwankwaso further asserted that the religious composition of presidential tickets would become a major issue ahead of the 2027 elections. “I think America is more worried about the Muslim-Muslim ticket now than the issue of Kwankwaso”, he said.
He, however, did not identify any U.S. officials or provide evidence that the American government had formally expressed such concerns.
Insisting that the issue would feature prominently in the next election cycle, he added: “I think the Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a thing in 2027. Well, it has to be”.
